Chapter 17: Medicine
Body attribute enhancement?
This "Tongxue Pill" can directly improve his physical attributes?
Chen Yuan was a bit surprised.
What shocked him even more was that the "Huang Ting Jade Codex" had such a function.
It could analyze whether a substance consumed was beneficial to the body.
This was extremely good news for Chen Yuan.
"Analyze!"
Suppressing the restlessness in his heart for now, Chen Yuan issued a command to the Jade Manual.
[Analysis Complete!]
[Detected a compatible substance beneficial for the host's physique, category: herbal, rootstock type, unnamed. Consumption in sufficient quantity may slightly enhance physical attributes.]
So that's what it meant.
Chen Yuan pondered.
He initially thought the attribute-enhancing effect stemmed directly from the medicinal power of the "Tongxue Pill."
But it seemed that wasn't the case.
Instead, it was one of the medicinal ingredients in the creation of the precious pill that contained this effect.
The problem was, he had no idea about the formula for the "Tongxue Pill." Now, even though he had identified an ingredient capable of enhancing physical attributes through analysis, he had no way to locate it.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly.
"This is troublesome. Unless I know the recipe for the 'Tongxue Pill' and verify each ingredient through the HuangTing Jade Manual, I'll never find out what this so-called 'herbal' material is specifically."
Of course, he could also visit the major drugstores in the city and experiment with various medicinal ingredients one by one in search of the corresponding substance.
There are thousands of medicinal ingredients. Searching this way would be highly inefficient, and it's hard to say when he might find what he needs.
"However, this gives me a lead. If one of the ingredients in the Tongxue Pill can enhance physical attributes, then there must be other similar medicinal ingredients that could also help improve my body's attributes..."
Chen Yuan fell into deep thought.
"No rush. Doing this will require a lot of time and effort. Plus, medicinal ingredients are expensive, and I'll need a significant amount of money. Searching for these substances will have to be included in a future plan..."
For now, Chen Yuan focused on mastering basic strength training.
Improving his physique would aid his martial arts practice, but it wasn't a decisive factor.
Priorities needed to be clear.
But he had already experienced the effects of the Tongxue Pill.
Not to mention the ingredient that enhanced physical attributes, its vitality restoration effect alone was predictably helpful for his ongoing martial arts training.
"One pill can save three days of recovery time. If I want to maintain a more efficient training schedule, the three pills promised by Senior Brother Zhao might not be enough. If I could purchase more from other formal disciples..."
Chen Yuan reasoned that since Zhao He could spare some of his quota, there might be other formal disciples in the martial arts hall willing to trade as well.
The difference would be that Zhao He was intentionally looking out for him without asking for much in return, whereas others might require him to pay a price.
With this in mind, Chen Yuan glanced toward the small backyard in the inner hall where the formal disciples practiced martial arts.
After discovering that his "perception aptitude" was questionable, Li Yue had stopped mentioning taking him in as a formal disciple. However, he did permit him to practice in that courtyard.
For the past few days, Chen Yuan had avoided causing trouble, so he hadn't gone there to train.
Now, it seemed like he could find an opportunity to discuss matters with those senior brothers and sisters.
But he wasn't in a rush to take action.
The timing wasn't right, as many formal disciples weren't at the martial arts hall today.
He looked up at the sky.
Noticing it was already afternoon, and feeling hunger in his belly, he bid farewell to a few fellow apprentices he had grown familiar with over the past few days and left the martial arts hall.
...
Before long, after having lunch, Chen Yuan returned to the street where his rented room was located.
After taking the Tongxue Pill, Chen Yuan could feel his vitality gradually recovering. The soreness in his body from training also began to fade over time.
It was as if he had quietly rested and recuperated for most of the day.
He figured that, in another hour or so, his body would likely return to its normal state. Planning to take a short nap and continue practicing martial arts at home afterward, he headed into the alley leading to his rented house.
But as soon as he entered, a stocky and slightly menacing stranger blocked his path.
The young man wore a gray short-sleeved shirt, exposing his muscular arms and dark skin. His unkempt attire gave off the unmistakable air of a street gang member.
"Chen Yuan, right?"
The youth sized him up with a hostile look and asked bluntly.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly, his body tensing instinctively.
Before he could respond, the young man ordered in a commanding tone, "My boss wants to see you. Come with me right now."
"Who's your boss, and what does he want with me?"
Recognizing the gang affiliation of the man in front of him, Chen Yuan suppressed his annoyance and asked calmly, not wanting to stir up trouble at the moment.
The young man, showing some impatience, still replied, "My boss, Zhang Hong, is the leader of the 'Tuzhu Society'. He has some important matters to discuss with you, so stop dawdling."
'Tuzhu Society?'
Chen Yuan immediately thought of the butcher shop business.
As expected.
The young man's tone grew harsher: "My boss is waiting for you at Lin Cheng's house right now. If you know what's good for you, come with me. Otherwise, don't blame me for getting rough!"
'Trouble!'
Involving Lin Cheng and being specifically targeted, the matter most likely had something to do with the butcher shop.
Chen Yuan also remembered that today was the end of the month—the time for settling accounts between the Tuzhu Society and the Chen family.
The fact that they were seeking him out now probably meant they had learned that the butcher shop business was no longer associated with the Chen family.
What was unclear, however, was the current situation and what Zhang Hong, the man the youth mentioned, might be plotting.
Since they had already found their way to Lin Cheng's house, Chen Yuan knew he couldn't refuse the invitation—whether it was for the butcher shop's business, out of concern for Lin Cheng as a friend, or to prevent future trouble.
Thoughts raced through his mind, but his expression remained calm. He simply replied:
"Lead the way."
The young man seemed displeased with his tone, but noticing Chen Yuan's martial arts attire from the Swallow Fist Martial Hall, he refrained from acting further.
With a cold snort, he led the way.
Before long, the two arrived at Lin Cheng's house.
Inside, Lin Cheng sat with a tense expression. Across from him were two burly men, one standing and one seated, both turning to look as they entered.
Chen Yuan recognized the seated one at a glance.
Dark-skinned and imposing, with a knife scar across his face, this was the same Tuzhu Society member who had previously come to Lin Cheng's place to demand payment.
The other man stood behind the scar-faced thug, clearly exuding the demeanor of a subordinate.
"Brother Lin," Chen Yuan greeted Lin Cheng.
Lin Cheng nodded back, a hint of guilt in his expression, and then introduced, "Brother Yuan, this is Boss Zhang Hong, a leader of the Tuzhu Society responsible for overseeing the nearby streets..."
Before he could finish, the scar-faced man raised a hand to interrupt him.
"So, you're Chen Yuan? The son of Clerk Chen?"
From his tone alone, it was clear he was not here with good intentions.
Before learning martial arts, Chen Yuan might have lacked the confidence to face such an intimidating figure.
But now, with his growing strength, his courage had also increased.
He nodded and said, "Yes, I am Chen Yuan. May I ask why Boss Zhang has sought me out specifically?"
Zhang Hong looked at him with slight surprise, as if he hadn't expected Chen Yuan to be so composed.
But he quickly dismissed the thought, adopting a commanding tone as he said, "Your butcher shop business—don't run it anymore. I've got two brothers here who are currently without work, so I'm borrowing your business to give them something to do."
"I called you over just to inform you. You don't have any objections to this arrangement, do you?"
Chen Yuan's eyes immediately narrowed.